Before you accept the shift: five checks for pay, hours and right-to-work

A work-readiness guide covering minimum wage, payslips, right-to-work checks and early warning signs in a new job or casual shift.

A new job offer can bring relief, pride and pressure all at once. For women rebuilding careers after migration, study, caring responsibilities or a period outside paid work, it may feel tempting to accept quickly and ask questions later. But a few checks before the first shift can prevent confusion about pay, hours, tax, visa conditions and dignity at work.

Start with the basics. Know the current National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage rate for your age group, and remember that lawful pay is about the hours actually worked. Ask whether training, trial shifts, preparation time or closing duties are paid. Ask when you will receive a payslip and whether you are an employee, worker, agency worker, contractor or volunteer.

Right-to-work checks should be handled professionally. An employer may need to check your right to work, often through a share code if you have digital status. They should not ask for your UKVI password or demand that you send private account details through informal channels. If your visa has work limits — for example during term time — check the official conditions and do not rely on a manager’s casual reassurance.

For Arab and MENA women, early work can also involve social pressure: a cousin recommending a role, a community business offering cash-in-hand work, or a manager who assumes you will not challenge missing pay. Asking for written details is not rude. It is normal UK workplace practice.

If something feels wrong — unpaid trial shifts, withheld tips, no payslip, pressure to work beyond visa conditions, or threats when you ask questions — keep records and seek advice early from ACAS, Citizens Advice or a specialist organisation.

What to do today

• Check the current minimum wage rate for your age.
• Ask for written pay, hours and start-date details.
• Keep your own record of shifts and breaks.
• Use a share code for status checks; do not share UKVI passwords.

Sources and limits

• GOV.UK: National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates — accessed 18 September 2026; used for official process/eligibility or practical route. Limits: general public guidance, not individual advice.
• GOV.UK: Check a job applicant’s right to work — accessed 18 September 2026; used for official process/eligibility or practical route. Limits: general public guidance, not individual advice.
• ACAS: Payslips — accessed 18 September 2026; used for official process/eligibility or practical route. Limits: general public guidance, not individual advice.
• ACAS: Zero-hours contracts — accessed 18 September 2026; used for official process/eligibility or practical route. Limits: general public guidance, not individual advice.

Last checked: 18 September 2026. General information only, not legal, immigration, employment or medical advice. For personal decisions, use qualified advice and official services.

Featured image licence/source: Shixart1985 / Wikimedia Commons; CC BY 2.0; source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_young_business_woman_holding_Macbook_in_his_home_office.jpg; image used illustratively with AWWN logo/strap treatment.

Featured image licence/source note

Corrected AWWN featured image for Arab/MENA-origin women in the UK audience. Visual uses a UK/London Muslim women/community context, AWWN logo and pillar-colour strap. Source: Young Muslim Women by garryknight; https://www.flickr.com/photos/8176740@N05/6058771534; licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/.